When Ana took Christian's hand the music stopped and the guests settled into their seats again. Ana felt her heart beating quickly and could almost hear the rhythm it was making. She and Christian remained facing each other as the ceremony began.
The wedding officiate started off by speaking about the responsibilities and privileges of marriage, but Ana's eyes were locked on Christian. He was smiling at her, making her feel like she was the luckiest girl around.
When it came time for the vows, Ana tried hard to concentrate on the exact words Christian was agreeing to, knowing that she would want to recall them in the years to come. She was slightly put off about not bring consulted about the vows. She had always thought that it was romantic when couples wrote their own, but it would be unreasonable to stop the ceremony to voice this opinion now.
"Christian, do you promise to love Ana? Do you promise to keep her in sickness and in health, to protect and comfort her and to place her above all others in your life for as long as you both shall live?" The officiate looked at Christian expectantly, but he did not have to wait long for an answer.
"I do," Christian replied as he gave her hand a squeeze. Ana tried hard not to frown. Promise to protect me? If I didn't know better, I would think that the chapel's standard vows had been altered for Mr. Grey.
Pleased with Christian's response, all eyes now turned to Ana. "Anastasia, do you promise to love Christian? Do you promise to keep him in sickness and in health, to comfort and obey him and to place him above all others for as long as you both shall live?"
Obey? What was this, 1910? Ana noticed that the officiate glanced at Christian momentarily when it had come to the obeying part; obviously, she was not the only one caught off guard with the antiquated terminology.
Ana knew that this was no mistake, that it was just another ploy from Christian to get her to relinquish control. Her stomach flipped-flopped and she mustered up all of her courage before answering. Ana cleared her throat. "I don't."
The room was silent. Christian looked at her, horrified. "Christian, I promise that I will love and comfort you until I die. I will make our marriage my priority and I will take your feelings into consideration when I make my decisions."
The whole room chuckle. The tension eased considerably, and Ana could hear Kate cheer quietly beside her. Christian narrowed his eyes, obviously displeased that she had amended his version of the wedding vows. Ana arched her eyebrow. "Do you accept my terms, Mr. Grey?"
Christian's mouth twitched into a quick smile before he grabbed her and sealed their marriage with a kiss. Taking his action as acceptance, the officiate proclaimed them husband and wife.
Everyone cheered and since it was a small wedding, the family and friends rushed to the altar to congratulate the new couple. Christian finally released her and moved his hand to the small of her back. "Everyone, there is a reception waiting for us upstairs in a private room. Please join us there."
After making his announcement, Christian gently pulled her away from the crowd and out the side door of the chapel. The door led to a small room that contained only a bench and a full length mirror. There was no other way in or out. What could this room possibly be used for?
Christian pulled her close to him once more. "Why do you have to defy me, Anastasia? Whether or not you say the word obey means little to me because you should know by now that I will expect your obedience regardless." He began feasting on her neck.
Ana pushed him away from her, breaking the contact and feeling the loss of it instantly, but she was determined to have her say. "Hold on, Grey. We had a deal and getting married only solidifies our roles. We make decisions together from now on."
A low growl came from the inside of his throat. "Do you think this is a game, Ana? We agreed before that I would have a say in things that involve your safety, and that arrangement will stand."
He moved closer to her, filling in the gap that she had made. Slowly, she nodded. "Fine, but that means I get input when something regards your safety."
This caused Christian to throw his head back in laughter, destroying the menacing persona that he had created by dragging her away from their wedding party. "Do you think that I need protection?" he asked, clearly amused by her turning the tables on him.
"I think that will be up for me to decide on a case by case basis, Mr. Grey. Of course, in order for me to make a clear determination about that appropriateness of your decisions, I will require full disclosure of… well, everything."
Her argument looked like it had knocked the air out of Christian. Apparently, he had not anticipated her employment of his own requirements against him. "Fair point, well made, Ana Grey."
He pulled her into his arms once more and kissed her thoroughly. "I love the way your name sounds with mine," he muttered. Ana couldn't agree more and wrapped her arms around his neck, giving Christian back just as much as she received.
The reception room was decorated as elaborately as the chapel. The wedding colors, a deep blue with hints of silver, played throughout. Christian was pleased with how perfectly his demands had been met. Every attention to detail had been made and he knew that a large tip would be in order for the staff involved.
It had taken every ounce of his self control not to have Ana in the backroom, but he was determined to have their first time as husband and wife be slow and romantic, for her more than for him. Ana may like rough sex to an extent, but Christian was looking forward to giving her all of her hearts and flowers over the course of the honeymoon.
Looking at the blushing bride by his side, his mind begun to wander to the pending consummation of their marriage. Thankfully, his thoughts were interrupted by Elliot making his toast.
"To the best little brother I've got and the best girl he has ever met, let alone dated," Elliot had stood and was now raising his glass in the air. "Seriously, Christian, treat her right because we all know she is way out of your league."
Everyone drank to that and Christian breathed a sigh of relief: at least Elliot had said something true and not incredibly awkward. Just as Elliot took his seat, Kate stood up next to Ana.
"I think that everyone here knows that Christian and I will likely have to agree to disagree for the rest of our lives." The entire Grey family and Ethan chuckled, knowing first hand that this was undisputable. "But there is one thing that we agree on: Ana deserves the very best. So for my toast, I will congratulate the couple and remind the younger Mr. Grey that the maid-of-honor position will remain filled by me for the duration of this marriage."
Kate looked Christian dead in the eye before raising her glass and sipping the champagne. Christin narrowed his eyes at her statement, but refrained from responding.
The meal was delicious and the caterer had followed the instructions to the letter. Christian felt Ana sneaking glances at him while she devoured the oysters. He gave her knee a squeeze, but kept his eye line unaltered and continued his conversation with his father, knowing that if he looked over at her he would be dragging her to the nearest closet for a romp.
After the meal and the cake, Christian determined that he should be allowed to whisk his bride away. He had decided to skip all of the traditions involving the garter, the bouquet and the dancing. With such a small crowd, it had seemed pointless and he had planned on having a larger reception when they returned to Seattle.
"Ana, we should go," he whispered to his bride as she conversed with his mother. She gave him an eager look, not at all what he was expecting. From the way she was socializing, he had thought that he was going to have to drag her away. His Ana was always wonderfully unexpected.
After she excused herself from the conversation, she stood and joined him. Christian snaked his arm around her waist and cleared his throat. "Everyone, thank you for coming. We will be departing now, but we will be seeing everyone again in a few weeks."
He caught the startled look on Ana's face at his announcement. Shit, did she think that they were going straight back to Seattle? She is concerned about her job, but did she seriously believe that I would not be giving her a proper honeymoon?
Ana's mother came forward first and gave them both a hug. She whispered something to Ana that Christian could not hear. Soon everyone followed in her wake. After the final goodbyes, Christian scooped her up in his arms. Ana let out a sound of surprise.
"Just carrying you over the threshold, Baby." Ana laughed and Mia let out a sniff at the gesture, obviously more touched by his actions than Ana by far. Christian rolled his eyes, which earned a laugh from Elliot and Ethan.
He stepped into the elevator and refused to let her down. Ana began protesting as soon as the doors closed behind them.
"Christian, I can walk. And I have already been to our room, so this is just silly." She squirmed a little, but she had to know that it was in vain; he was literally twice her size.
"That might matter if we were going back to the hotel room, but I have other plans for us Mrs. Grey."
She gave him another nudge before settling into his hold. "What, did you get them to create a Red Room of Pain for you here, too? I know that you had the chapel and reception decorated and I think that you are wonderful for it, but I do not want-"
Christian stiffened at her mention of the playroom, cutting her off before she could continue. "Ana, there is no room of pain here, okay? You are the most infuriating-"
Ana stuck out her lip and interrupted him right back. "Well, if that is not where we are going, then what is going on?"
Christian laughed at her ploy for information. "You really thought I would fall for that, Ana? This is going to be a surprise and none of your accusations are going to change that, my dear."
Ana looked back at him with a guilty smile. Yes, sharing his life with her was going to be fun and challenging.
Thanks everyone for the well-wishing about my looming finals. They are not until December, but I've got a lot of info to retain, so it has spilled into other aspects of my life. You guys are the best and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!